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December 07, 2009

Kerala Music college students in Chennai for season

It is one of the nicest things a government could do to students with regard to cultural exchange.When M.A.Baby, Hon'ble Minister for Education and Culture of Kerala initiated a cultural exchange in arts and music, he chose the right time for the students to be in Madras.

The students of music from three Govt. colleges in Kerala landed in Chennai early December and spent a week here. There were educative sessions with veterans like Dr. Balamuralikrishna, P. S. Narayanaswamy, 'Chitravina' Ravikiran, T.V. Gopalakrishnan. After the sessions, the students presented Sangeethanjali in groups at Srinivasa Sastri Hall, Luz, Mylapore.

In one of these sessions senior vidwan P.S. Narayanaswami was giving these students a few tips apart from teaching them a new kriti. "Always practise in your own sruti irrespective of whether you have caught cold or other inconveniences. Practise varnams by singing them in 2 kalais and in a single breath for two avarthanams" he said.

Students of Sri Swati Tirunal Music College, The Tripunithura Music College and the Chembai Memorial Music College, Palakad travelled all the way to Chennai and visited a few colleges here including the Teacher Training College at The Music Academy.

It is learnt that the students from the Music Academy in turn will visit the colleges in Kerala to get a hands on feel of learning music in these places and the government of Kerala is sponsoring the entire programme.

A good idea. But not many students in Chennai were seen at these sessions or to listen to the good music presented by the Kerala students. The local students too should have utilised the opportunity to rub shoulders with their counterparts at this programme, one of the observers felt.